Garment-supporter.



No. 705,506. Patented July 22, I902.

- J. WILKINSOPL.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

. (Application filed 1hr. 11, 1901;) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 705,506. Patented July 22, 1902.

J. WILKINSON.

' GARMENT SUPPOBTER.

(Application filed mm. 11, 1901.

(NoMndelJ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES P T NT OFFICE.

JENNIE WILKINSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

,GARMEblT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 705,506, dated July 22, 1902.

7 'Application filedMarch 11, 1901} Serial No. 50.538- (No model.)

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Garment-Supporters, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. I

My invention relates to devices for supporting ladies garments; and it consists of means hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one mode of carrying out said invention, the described means, however, constituting but one of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a partial view of a'female figure, illustrating the application of my invention, Fig. II represents a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a device embodying my said invention. Fig. III represents a detail elevation, and Fig. IV a detail cross-section, of the invention, taken upon the line 4: 4 in Fig. III. Figs. V and VI represent perspective views showing the device in its unsecured and secured positions, respectively. Fig. VII represents a perspective view of a second form of device, and Figs. VIII, IX, X, and XI detail views of parts of same.

The device consists of a flexible metal band I A, bent into curved shape, as illustrated in Fig. V, such illustrated curved form being that which it assumes when not in use. The

band is formed with two angularly-project ing end pieces a and a, such end pieces forming obtuse angles with the main body portion of the band, such angles being equal to each other, as shown in'Fig. V. The one end portion is formed with two keyhole-slots a a and the otherend portion ais formed with two buttons a a adapted to enter and be secured in said slots, as illustrated in Fig. VI. These buttons and slots "are. in lines substantially parallel with the end pieces upon which they are formed or secured. By means of said" slots and buttonsthe two end pieces may be secured one upon the other and substantially parallel with each other, as shown, the band during such position of said end pieces being warped, its front portion assuming in consequence thereof a downwardly-curved position, as illustrated in Fig. VI. The contiguous end portions a Figs. II and XI, intermediate of the end pieces and main body portion are formed so as to incline upwardly, as shown. Such construction permits the end pieces to be given the obliquity with relation to the main portion of the band necessary for causing sufficient warp in the latter when the end pieces are secured one to the other to give the required downwardly-curved .form to the front portion of the device, as will further-appear, without unduly bending the band so as to cause the front upper edges to project inwardly and render the device uncomfortable. Upon the outer surfaceof said band are secured by means of rivets or other suitable means a series of hooks a, Fig. II, and upon the outer surface of the rear portion of the band is secured a plate B, provided with a series of teeth I), projecting downwardly and inwardly from the rear lower edge of such portion, as illustrated in Fig. IV, the rear hooks a being secured upon the outside surface of such plate.

In use the device is placed around the Waist of the person to which it is applied and the front angular end portions secured one to the other, as illustrated in Fig. I. In such position the device forms a support for a skirt 0, provided with a series of loops'e, which are hung upon the hooks a as shown, the front portion of the skirt being supported at lower points than is the rear portion of said skirt, as a result of the forwardly and downwardly projecting form of the device due to its warped position, previously described. The result of such manner of supporting the skirt produces what is generally known as a' long-waisted effect.

The inwardly-projecting teeth I) serve to se cure the rear lower portion of awaist which is used as an outer garment and which covers the flexible band above described; such-lower portion of said waist being caused to engage said teeth and being thereby held from being dislocated in an upward direction, the device as a whole holding the skirt and waist together at the rear to properly join under the belt or band usually worn upon the outside of each.

In the modified form (shown in Fig. VII) the band is made in two parts D and D, joined by a rear portion D which is provided with the inwardly-extending teeth, before described, and a series of keyhole-slots d, in which may be secured buttons (1, secured to the rear ends of the two band parts,respectively. Each such end is provided with a slidable sleeve d for securing the adjacent ends of the parts D, D, and D to each other. In this form the one angular end portion (1 is made somewhat longer than the other end portion ,and its lower extremity is provided with an elastic band 01 suitably secured thereto. The lower end of said band has secured to it a device, such as a safety-pin, as shown in Fig. VII, or with a hook d, such as is shown in Fig. X, for securing such end piece to the inner garments, and thereby preventing the upward displacement of the front portion of the support and holding same securely in proper place. The other front end portion of the support is provided with an upwardly-extending hook (1 which is adapted to receive the front portion of a belt, and prevents the upward displacement of such belt when placed upon the outside of the skirt and waist. In this modified form I have shown the series of hooks upon the outside of the band formed integrally with the band itself, such formation being one which may be used.

\Vhen the long-waisted effect is not desired,the end pieces are caused to project from the band substantially at right angles, so that such band when the ends are secured assumes a simple cylindrical or hoop-like form.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A garment-supporter comprising a flexible metallic waistband having its end portions extended at an angle to its body portion, and means for securing said end portions together to make the waistband extend from the waistline at the back down and around the abdomen in front, substantially as described.

2. A metallic waist-belt comprising two sections provided with means for adjustment at the back, the front ends of said sections being extended downward and provided with fastening means, said belt when in use extending from the line of the waist at the back around the abdomen in front, substantially as described.

3. A metallic waist-belt provided with downwardly-extendin g front ends having fasteners thereon, means for adjusting the belt at the back, hooks at intervals around the belt, and points or prongs on the lower edge of the belt at the back, substantially as described.

Signed by me this 16th day of February, 1901.

J ENN IE WILKINSON.

Attest:

D. T. DAVIES, G. W. SAYWELL. 

